R16 Analysis: ESP-POR - Baldassi (ARG)

On the elbow, the TV truck didn't do the referee any favours by starting the replay too late. It is clear that half the Spanish team are making elbow gestures immediately, and you can definitely see an elbow from the wide shot (though tough to tell how severe it was from that angle). The play acting by the Spaniard was quite pathetic, but the referee just runs over and immediately produces the red and I don't think it had anything to do with the call.

 

This shot is after the ball was touched. I don't have the capabilities of posting the freeze frame I'm looking at right now. I had to get close to the TV to say for certain if he was off or on. His head and left leg appear to be ahead of the last defender. It is much closer of a call than what your shot showed. But he was still offside.. barely.

I don't know how any AR could actually make this call correctly.. He's on the far end of the field, with so many players obscuring his view, and the AR is barely not even with the 2LD.

 

Yeah, I think it would have been virtually impossible for the AR to see that final touch. Not only are there so many players in the way it is also a long way away and facing the other direction.

Overall, I agree with the majority that he had a very good game. He let the play flow unless he needed to call something. And he kept the cards in his pocket until he really needed them.

 

I can't even see the ball in that ridiculously low resolution screnshot.

 

Then I suggest you watch the game again when you have calmed down. Watch the game with cool detachment and you will appreciate the masterful job this ref did. His calls were uniformly excellent, his positioning was so good that he often was within 5 yards of an event. He wasn't fooled by dives. The players respected him. Did he call a perfect game? Of course not. He possibly should have called a foul for Ronaldo near the end. But, the ref did about as good as job as is humanly possible. Got the red card correct too. I think the elbow occurred before all the replays. Never heard of this ref before but he is worthy, very worthy. I think we should all watch the game again and pick up a few tips on how the job should be done.

 

I agree.

Besides the benefit of the doubt is supposed to got the attacker in any case.

 

He was always close to play yet he looked slow and lumbering...it was funny to watch.

 

Have to say that the ref did well except his ridiculous determination to not give Ronaldo any fouls and the Costa Red card.

 

I have seen all of Baldassi's games, and IMO he is the best referee in this tournament. I am a big fan of the Mexican referee's but Baldassi showed a different way of controlling a game like this. While the Mexicans drew lines in the sand and carded anyone who even looked at the line (which worked!), Baldassi used his personality, feigned indifference, and crazy super-human proximity to play to just roll his eyes at dives, and nail the correct calls.

The goal may have been offside, but that is so close and so fast, and that flick so difficult to see, the flag down is fine.

on the red card, the moment of the game, the score like it was, Portugal had the choice to play till the end, or get dirty. Even if the red card was an overreaction, that is a game control card if there ever was one. I don't know if we will ever see the right replay. The Univision announcers said they saw an elbow before the replay--even before the red card was shown, but couldn't tell if it hit.

A phenomenal job the the ref.

 

Absolutely true. His anticipatory skills are outstanding. Line him up in a contest with all the other WC refs in a 50 yard race and no doubt he would finish last. This just shows how being a ref requires so much beyond mere physical abilities.

 

When you first see Baldassi, he doesn't look like the fittest referee. But, having watched all his matches in this WC, I believe his performances make him one of the top 3 or 4 referees in this WC. His foul recognition is amazing (well except for the push Ronaldo received near the end), and his demeanor makes the players respect and be comfortable with him. Overall, Baldassi has been excellent, and I think he will get another match, especially if Argentina loses to Germany. He is a reminder that the big-name European referees who receive so much TV visibility are not the only top referees.

 

Back to the possible offside on the goal...

1. I think the AR never saw the flick because of the number of players between him and the ball. So, the last touch in the AR's mind could have been the pass forward from the Spaniard at the top of the arc.

2. Though the CR may have had only one player between him and the ball, he was concentrating on play more than potential offsides. So, let's say he sees the flick and glances to his AR (or waits for an inidcation of offsides in his ear piece) and since he doesn't see a raised flag, he trusts his AR's judgement and allows the goal.

Makes sense to me, especially #1.

 

I am not a Portugal or Spain fan, why did you make a naive assumption that I need to calm down?

I have been watching football games for 23 years about 100-200 games a year, refeering for several years, and have been watching 2 referee analysis TV programmes for about 17 years in Turkey by former FIFA referees, can I ask your background as a referee?

 

Well, if you think he was the worst ref. I got some bad news cause Jesus isn't scheduled to be back in time for this world cup.

 

I realize that you feel the need to defend yourself. BUT, your first post seemed more emotional than analytical with conclusion not supported in the post by facts.

However, this is not the forum for it.

Yes, I understand that others on this forum are replying to your posts ina somewhat cynical way, which is not good either.

Please, in the future, when you make a conclusion about "worst" referee, etc... offer some supporting facts in an analytical way, instead of using subjective adjectives.

No, I am not a moderator or anyone important, just a fellow referees who enjoys the analysis of this forum.

 

you found this quirky and post it or post it out of desperation, I dont really care.

What I am saying, a referee can make a big mistake, like disallowing England goal, it lasts only 0.1 seconds, and AR was playing with 2nd last defender there. Its totally acceptable. No bad intention there.

Here in this match, this ref totally demolished Portugal team, demoralized them, by not calling fouls, by giving fouls when Spain was diving.

People are saying "I didnt see it but I believe its red card, since ref should have seen something". That s unacceptable, is that analytical or dogmatic?

I am not a ronaldo fan or something, I speak from experience from his approach to players, this referee was biased against Portuguese players.

d5clark, I dont really get emotional, if I had to support a team that would be spain, because of Del Bosque was our former coach.

Yeah I didnt watch all games, but I am saying worst referee I saw in tournament, I watched about 80% of games.

 

...

Anyway, I am telling to referees, just try it for free. In your first next match between team A and team B, in 50-50 calls, give every decision against to team B, and just do it 5 times, and come back here write back what happens. Also send me a private message. That is the experience I am talking.

An amateur would make obvious mistakes if he is biased. A pro would do it discreet.

 

Absolutely. It may have been offside but it's close enough to give the attacker the benefit of the doubt.

The problem is this:

If the play is reversed and it's Portugal attacking and it's Ronaldo on the end of that flick instead of Villa...it gets called offside.

See the "offside" call in the Italy v. Slovakia game for an example of how a teams reputation influences calls by the officials. Quagliarella was just as "onside" as Villa. The only difference is that Spain is expected to be able to pull off the perfectly timed through ball because they're so good.

Objective officiating is a pipe dream in this world cup.

The benefit of the doubt goes out the window.

This is based on how reluctant the officials were to call anything when it involved Ronaldo. There was a clear foul on the edge of the right side of the box where the defender didn't even look at the incoming ball and instead, put both his hands into Ronaldo's chest.

Another example of a well officiated game that went sideways at the first opportunity.

 

Especially Portugal that has quite a history of surrounding referees and challenging decisions.

 

I haven't read the back and forth between you and anyone else...but this post is bang on.

This game reaked of the officials leaning towards the Spanish side.

And I went into this game as a complete neutral....if anything...I was against Portugal to being with. Now I hope Spain crashes out somewhere down the line.

I don't expect officials to be perfect. That's why I can live with the offside goal counting. It happens.

But not calling that foul on Ronaldo on the edge of the box is inexcusable. That's not a ref missing a call. That is clearly a ref who made his mind up about a player before actually seeing the play develop. That goes for the AR as well who was in an even better spot to make the call.

Horrendous officiating.

 

Perhaps there is a moral or objective lesson for Ronaldo and all players that are noted divers in soccer. Like the little boy who cried wolf, you do it so often that the day arrives the wolf is actually there and no one believes you because you have dived and simulated so many times.

I don't feel sorry for any injustice that may have happened to Ronaldo or any other cheater that does actually gets fouled, but the referee misses it believing the player was simulating. Start playing fairly and the calls will no doubt go your way. You have so much skill there is no question you will be repeatedly fouled.

 

Well this thread is useless. Thanks Massref for allowing this.